{"id":6522,"date":"2022-07-22T12:25:56","date_gmt":"2022-07-22T10:25:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/viajerosactivos.com\/?p=6522"},"modified":"2025-01-18T17:59:29","modified_gmt":"2025-01-18T16:59:29","slug":"curiosities-of-thailand","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/viajerosactivos.com\/en\/curiosidades-de-tailandia\/","title":{"rendered":"51 Curiosities about Thailand that will amaze you"},"content":{"rendered":"

Curiosities about Thailand about festivities, traditions and customs that you have never been told, all from my experience of living in the country.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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1.- Siam \u2013 cats and twins<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Kingdom of Siam was the old name of Thailand, back in the days when Ayutthaya was the capital. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The name change was in 1939, which was renamed Prathet Thai<\/em> which translates as "country of free people", in English it is thailand<\/em> and in Spanish Thailand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You will sometimes hear Thais called Siamese, although that word is most commonly used for a breed of cats and twins who are born physically connected.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As for cats, the Siamese are a breed native to that country and in those times they were cats that only the royal family could have.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The first brothers who were born connected did so in Siam, they were Chang and Eng Bunker, born on May 11, 1811.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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2.- Importance of the King<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The king in Thailand is considered a demigod and is owed respect just like the rest of the royal family.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Any insult or defamation of the King can be punished by prison. The minimum sentences are 3 years and the record that a judge has sentenced is 43 years in prison for a former official in January 2021.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2015 there was another high-profile case in which someone who "liked" Mark Z.'s social network and shared an article that talked about an alleged case of corruption by the king was sentenced to 32 years in prison.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That is why you have to be very careful with what is said on social networks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Even stepping on a baht bill (the local currency) that shows the king's face is an offense.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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3.- National Anthem<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The current national anthem is from 1939, the same year the country's name was changed and it was renamed Thailand. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The anthem is sacred and a national pride that is broadcast to the public 3 times a day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is common for you to hear it even through the supermarket speakers when you are shopping.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you are curious to know what their anthem says, here are the lyrics:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Thailand unites the flesh and blood of Thais<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The land of Thailand belongs to Thais<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Your independence has been long, desiring sovereignty allowed you to maintain it,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Because Thais<\/em> has joined together forever.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thais<\/em> It is peaceful and loving, in war we are not cowards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Our sovereignty will never be threatened,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We will sacrifice every drop of our blood for our nation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We are ready to die for freedom, security and prosperity.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

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4.- Real name of Bangkok<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Bangkok is the name we foreigners use; However, the real name of the Thai capital is much longer:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Krung Thep Mahanakhon Amon Rattanakosin Mahinthara Yuthaya Mahadilok Phop Noppharat Ratchathani Burirom Udomratchaniwet Mahasathan Amon Phiman Awatan Sathit Sakkathattiya Witsanukam Prasi.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n

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\"bangkok<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

The meaning is: "City of angels, great city of the immortals, magnificent city of the nine gems, seat of the king, city of royal palaces, home of the incarnate gods, erected by Visvakarman at the behest of Indra."<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thais use a shorter way to refer to their capital, which are the first words, Krung Thep<\/strong> which means "city of angels" and is pronounced the same as if you read it in Spanish with the silent "h."<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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5.- They were never colonized<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Thailand is the only country in Southeast Asia that was never colonized by Europeans and always maintained its independence. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Something that represents a real pride for them and is reflected in the name of the country, Thailand, which literally means "country of free people."<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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6.- They have a different calendar<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The Thai calendar is solar and since it is a mainly Buddhist country, they do not count the years since the birth of Jesus like in our (Gregorian) calendar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The beginning of their calendar is marked by the death of Gautama Buddha which corresponds to the year 543 BC, therefore, they are in the year 2565 (now in July 2022).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The days of the week and months coincide with our calendar and celebrate the Western New Year, January 1, which is an official holiday and its own new year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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7.- Thai New Year is in April<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Thai New Year is on April 13, although the celebration lasts until April 15.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The name of the new year is Songkran<\/em> and literally means "astrological step" because it is considered a moment of transformation and change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

During these dates, different traditional Buddhist rituals are performed in the temples. It is also a festival famous for street water battles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you have the opportunity to travel during that time, get ready for fun with water guns. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Of course, carry your cell phone and camera protected in a plastic case because a bucket of water can also fall on you and get your last name wet. \ud83d\ude1c\ud83d\udca6<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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8.- A grotesque and bloody festival<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The Phuket Vegetarian Festival is organized by the Chinese community living in Phuket every year during the month of October. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Chinese community does not eat meat during the duration of the festival as a purifying act. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are also vegetarian street food stalls, although it is not very varied and not healthy because it is all fried.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"vegetarian-festival-phuket\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

The name of the festival sounds harmless, but some of the rituals are quite grotesque and bloody, not suitable for very impressionable people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some of the rituals include piercing the mouth with swords, others like the one I witnessed (video below) hit the back with sharp weapons (axes and others with metal tips). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I confess that the weapons were quite blunt, you could see some blood, but if they were sharp it would be a real carnage. Likewise, they are intense rituals and not for everyone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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